The aviation industry is in its greatest crisis since the Second World War. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, only 1.8 billion passengers took off last year. For comparison: in 2019 there were still 4.5 billion passengers – a decrease of 60 percent!
While Corona is preventing the airline industry from taking off, secret winners are emerging: the providers of travel with private jets. They recovered very quickly from the corona shock last spring and are gaining altitude again. This is shown by exclusive figures from the data research company Wingx available to Blick.
From April to mid-May 2021, the private jet industry recorded 190 percent more flights than in the same period of the previous year. Compared to the 2019 level, it is only six percent behind in spring. “This means that the sector is in a much better position than the airline industry,” says Richard Koe (50), Managing Director of Wingx.
Why private jet providers are doing so well
Last year was forgotten even for many private jet operators. But there are exceptions. When the world shut down almost everything for the first time in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the private jet business briefly flourished. People around the globe were stranded because the airlines shut down numerous connections. “A business jet can always fly as long as the borders are still open. Those who could afford it flew home in a private jet, ”explains aviation expert Koe.
The entire private jet industry has benefited from its simplicity in the pandemic, Koe says. “The industry segment is much smaller and therefore more flexible than the large airline sector.” Business jet companies would have been able to react more quickly to changed restrictions and requirements. “Because they hardly have any employees apart from the pilots, the administrative and financial outlay is comparatively low.”
Customers have also come to appreciate the advantages of a private jet, Koe continued. The providers are now benefiting from this. «The security aspect has moved to the fore. The private jet has significant advantages here. Because whoever travels commercially comes into contact with more people and is therefore exposed to a greater risk of infection. ”
Vacation travel by private jet is booming
That the small sector is doing so well is astonishing given its reliance on business travel. That flight segment is particularly suffering from Corona because the Zoom meeting has replaced the conference in Dubai or London. Koe observed a slight recovery: “With the vaccination advances in the countries, people are doing a little more business again,” he says.
But the real reason for the quick recovery is different: More and more people are using private jets for vacations. In America, the rich were particularly fond of flying to Colorado this winter. California and Florida are now very popular. In Europe, aviation expert Koe is increasingly observing trips to Cannes, Nice and Mallorca. His data show: “The flight activity of private jets is higher than ever on the weekends. That is a clear indicator that the leisure business is booming. ”
It’s getting cheaper and cheaper
Niclas Seitz (34) wants to earn money from it, as he says Blick. The German founded his company Travelcoup Deluxe based in Sarnen NW in Corona summer 2020. The company specializes in package tours with private jets. There are weekly flights to holiday destinations such as Ibiza, Mallorca or Nice. A trip to Malle by private jet, including three nights in a five-star hotel, costs just 2500 francs – per person.
This means that the young Swiss company is right on trend. Luxurious travel above the clouds is booming – and it’s getting cheaper and cheaper! “There are more and more innovative and inexpensive offers,” says Richard Koe. “Overall, the prices for private jets have fallen by ten to 15 percent.”
Prices are likely to fall further as new providers enter the private jet market. Luxury could therefore become more affordable than ever for medium-sized businesses.